Canada

In Canada, the 150
institutions that are the rough equivalent of the US community
college are usually referred to as "colleges" since in common usage
a degree granting institution is almost exclusively a university. In the
province of Quebec, even when speaking in English, colleges are
called Cégeps for Collège
d'enseignement général et professionnel, meaning "College of
General and Vocational Education". Colleges are educational
institution providing higher education and tertiary
education, granting certificates, diplomas, associate's degrees, and bachelor's
degrees. Each Province has its own system of Colleges
reflecting the decentralization of the Canadian Education system as
provided for in The Constitution Act, 1867. However virtually all
of them began in the mid 1960's as a response to the shortage of
skilled immigrants as the wave of post second World War II
Europeans began to decline just as the Canadian economy was
beginning to expand rapidly. The motivation was economic as opposed
to the much earlier start in the United States of Junior and
Community Colleges which was driven by an integrative social
policy.

Malaysia

Community colleges in Malaysia are a network of educational
institutions whereby vocational and technical skills training could
be provided at all levels for school leavers before they entered
the workforce. The community colleges also provide an
infrastructure for rural communities to gain skills training
through short courses as well as providing access to a
post-secondary education.

At the moment, most community colleges award qualifications up
to Level 3 in the Malaysian Qualifications
Framework (Certificate 3) in both the Skills sector (Sijil
Kemahiran Malaysia or the Malaysian Skills Certificate) as well as
the Vocational and Training sector but the number of community
colleges that are starting to award Level 4 qualifications
(Diploma) are increasing. This is two levels below a Bachelor's
degree (Level 6 in the MQF) and students within the system who
intend to further their studies to that level will usually seek
entry into Advanced Diploma programs in public universities,
polytechnics or accredited private providers.

Philippines

In the Philippines, a community school functions
as elementary or secondary school at daytime and towards the end of
the day convert into a community college. This type of institution
offers night classes under the supervision of the same principal,
and the same faculty members who are given part time college
teaching load.[1]

The concept of community college dates back to the time of the
former Minister of Education, Culture and Sports
(MECS) that had under its wings the Bureaus of Elementary
Education, Secondary Education, Higher Education and
Vocational-Technical Education. MECS Secretary, Dr. Cecilio Putong,
who in 1971 wrote that a community school is a school established
in the community, by the community, an for the community itself.
Dr. Pedro T. Orata of Pangasinan shared the same idea, hence the
establishment of a Community College, now called the City College
of Urdaneta.[1]

A community college like the one in Abuyog, Leyte can operate with only PHP 124,000
annual budget in a 2-storey structure housing more than 700
students.[1]

Before the 1970s, community colleges in the United States were
more commonly referred to as junior colleges,
and that term is still used at some institutions. However, the term
"junior college" has evolved to describe private two-year institutions, whereas the
term "community college" has evolved to describe publicly funded
two-year institutions. The name derives from the fact that
community colleges primarily attract and accept students from the
local community, and are
often supported by local tax revenue.

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Comprehensive Community
Colleges

Many schools have evolved into and adapted the term
Comprehensive to describe their institutions. These
schools typically offer five facets of education.

Transfer Education – The traditional two-year
student that will then transfer to a four-year institution to
pursue a BS/BA degree.

Career Education – The traditional two-year
student that will graduate with an Associate Degree and directly
enter the workforce.

Developmental – Remedial education for high
school graduates who are not academically ready to enroll in
college-level courses.

Continuing – Non-Credit courses offered to the
community for personal development and interest.

Industry Training – Contracted training and
education wherein a local company pays the college to provide
specific training or courses for their employees.

Within the Transfer Education category, comprehensive schools
typically have articulation agreements in place that
provide prearranged acceptance into specific four-year
institutions. At some community colleges, the partnering four-year
institution teaches the third and fourth year courses at the
community college location and thereby allows a student to obtain a
four year degree without having to physically move to the four-year
school.

The mission of the Community College Research
Center[7][8] from
Teachers College at Columbia University is to "conduct research on
the major issues affecting community colleges in the United States
and to contribute to the development of practice and policy that
expands access to higher education and promotes success for all
students."[9]

The Community College Futures Assembly is an annual conference
to showcase the best practices in community college administration.
Focus groups convene at the conference to serve as a "think tank"
to inform practice of community college board of trustees,
presidents, and policy makers. [11]

Community College Journal of Research and Practice

New Directions for Community Colleges

Community College Review

The Kellogg Community College Leadership Legacy Project,
reserching and reporting on the success of those bringing
leadership to Community Colleges and who were surpported in their
doctoroal programs by grants by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.